Our History

The few Jewish families who found their way to Gloucester around the turn of the twentieth century were Eastern European workers, peddlers, merchants. They met in each other’s homes to share services and holidays. Between 1906 and 1915, the congregation purchased three different downtown Gloucester houses in which to meet. In 1950, we purchased the church site on Middle Street, where we still have our home today.

Ever since, Ahavat Achim has been a continual Jewish presence on Cape Ann. We now draw families from multiple North Shore communities, as well as many summer residents and visitors. Even though our building suffered a catastrophic fire on a Shabbat eve in 2007, we did not miss a service or a social event.

1904 Congregation incorporates as Chevra Ahavas Achim

1950 Former 1828 Unitarian church purchased

1950  TAA joins United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

1965 Rabbi Myron "Mike" Geller begins his 40+ year tenure at TAA

Late 1970s Regular Saturday morning services introduced

1982 Ellen Solomon becomes first woman president of the congregation

1998 The Jewish Community of Cape Ann, An Oral History is published

2006 Samuel Barth installed as rabbi

2007 Synagogue building destroyed by fire from adjacent apartment house

2011 New building dedicated on our original site

2011 Steven Lewis installed as rabbi

2022 David Kudan begins serving as interim rabbi

2024 Naomi Gurt Lind becomes TAA's first woman rabbi

Photo by Bobby Kramer.

Learn about our Rabbi Emeritus Myron Geller, the spiritual leader of our congregation for four decades.